Yates County Farmland Protection Board

The Yates County Agriculture Farmland Protection Board has a regionally diverse membership, representing the various types and sectors of farming in Yates County. We are also fortunate to reside in a county that is one of a few nationally to see farming expand within its borders. Agriculture is the number one or two economic drivers in our county [depending on who you ask] and the prognosis looks good for continued growth. The support of local towns and village assessors to promote the expansion of parcels added to the Yates County agriculture districts speaks to the cooperative relationships and understanding of the importance of agriculture to the beauty and rural quality of life in Yates County.

Larry Lewis clearly sees the role of the Farmland Protection Board is to “provide good information to the farming community so they can make good and responsible decisions” in their land use, land preservation, management of crops, livestock and related farming practices. We also see the secondary role of the Board to be “proactive in bringing light to emerging issues, based on data and solid information that will ensure agriculture continues to be an asset to Yates County”. The Farmland Protection Board is not the “agriculture police” but a group of concerned people bringing personal and professional experience and knowledge to the hamlets, villages, and towns around soil, water, land use, agriculture to preserve Yates County farmland.

We hope by bringing good information on agricultural development and farmland enhancement planning, we have found the balance between the economic interests and needs of Yates County residents and visitors of Keuka, Seneca Lake, and Canandaigua Lake[s].

Last updated January 12, 2024